The products below would make quick work of Adwoa Aboah’s Versus Versace look; Image: Imaxtree

It’s a question that’s plagued mankind for decades: Why is it impossible for makeup to stay put prior to dates, interviews, weddings or any other occasion where an immaculate cat eye/highlight/red lip would be nice and yet just as impossible to remove said makeup when it’s time to rest our heads against blessedly clean pillowcases?

Regardless, your struggles are now at an end. Your days of drawn-out cleansing, washing and rubbing (which can be pretty rough on the delicate skin surrounding your eyes and ultimately cause wrinkles) are behind you. There are plenty of gentle yet powerful waterproof makeup removers on the market — formulas that’ll remove your tough, long-wearing mascara without painfully blinding you temporarily, that’ll gently sweep away even the darkest of dark lips with little to no effort, that cater to all skin concerns and eye sensitivity levels — and we’ve rounded them up for you.

Click through the gallery below to shop 12 of the absolute best waterproof makeup removers out there, according to industry insiders and reviews by makeup lovers like you, who endured many a day-old raccoon eye before finally landing on their hero product. (Note: the aforementioned reviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Cordelia Tai is a freelance staff writer at theFashionSpot. Her work has appeared on Refinery29 and the Huffington Post, among others. Ultimately, she plans to segue into fashion merchandising so that she can (judiciously) online shop for a living.